Who said comfort food can't be nutritious? These warm and cheesy balls pack lots of vitamins and minerals into every bite, thanks to all of the spinach that's included. Great for parties or just a snack! Shared by Paula Montagna, MS, RD, CDN, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.
Ingredients
• 6 cups fresh spinach leaves, trimmed and washed
• 3 cups boiling water
• 4 eggs
• ½ cup feta cheese
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced
• ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
• 2 scallions, diced
• 1 garlic clove, diced
• ¾ cup bread crumbs/gluten-free bread crumbs
• Warm tomato sauce for dipping, if desired
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place trimmed and washed spinach leaves in a large mixing bowl and pour boiling water over them. Cover and set aside for 3 minutes.
3. Rinse the spinach with cold tap water. Drain using your hands to squeeze out all the remaining water. You should obtain about 2/3 cup of packed, cooked spinach leaves. If you are using frozen spinach, defrost and measure this quantity.
4. Place on a cutting board and finely chop the cooked spinach. Transfer into a mixing bowl.
5. Add eggs, cheese, herbs, garlic, and bread crumbs. You can also add salt and pepper if your cheese is not very salty.
6. Combine until you are able to form the mixture into balls with your hands, or with a small ice cream scoop. If too moist, add a little more bread crumbs until the mixture is easy to roll into a ball with your hands.
7. Place the balls on a non-stick cookie tray covered with baking paper, or a greased cookie sheet with some olive oil.
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until balls are golden on top.
9. Enjoy!